Roadway barrier structure



March 1, 1955 e. A. HEINRICH 2,702,953

ROADWAY BARRIER STRUCTURE Filed March 4, 195.3 4 Sheets-Sheet l IVENTOR. a

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March 1955 G. A. HEINRICH ROADWAY BARRIER STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 4, 1953 WW I March 1, 1955 Filed March 4, 1955 G. A. HEINRICH 2,702,953

ROADWAY BARRIER STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 GaaZ'az/Clfleinn'ck; SLM, M

United States Patent 2,702,953 ROADWAY BARRIER STRUCTURE Gustav A. Heinrich, Chicago, 111., assignor to Suhr, Berryman, Peterson & Suhr, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application March 4, 1953, Serial No. 340,353 17 Claims. (Cl. 39-6) This invention relates to a roadway barrier structure of the type adapted to be moved into position across a roadway for blocking tralfic when desired and then moved back to retracted position.

Roadway barriers of the type described and claimed herein are used primarily to halt vehicles approaching a bridge, railroad crossing or the like. The barrier structure of this invention provides an improved device that is easily moved into position to warn an oncoming vehicle of an obstruction in the road and yet is capable of stopping a heavy vehicle travelling at high speed and to absorb the shock therefrom. Furthermore, the improved structure is preferably arranged so that the movable parts are approximately balanced and can thus quickly be moved into and out of position with relatively small efiort. Furthermore, in the improved structure all movable parts are arranged to move about a common center into and out of obstructing position so that the entire structure can be kept quite simple and so that the entire barrier is movable without altering the relative positions of the parts of the barriers including those parts adapted to yieldingly stop a heavy vehicle and the like.

The preferred roadway barrier of this invention comprises a pair of mounting members on opposite sides of the roadway, a plurality of cables, preferably three as hereinafter described, extending between the mounting members with each cable including an approximately horizontal reach extending between the mounting members for intercepting an oncoming object on the roadway and side reaches each extending in a direction generally opposite to the direction of travel of the object in order to absorb the shock of the object striking these horizontal reaches in tension on the cables, and without substantial vertical displacement of these cables. Means are also provided for moving the mounting members to raise and lower the cables to and from object intercepting position.

In the structure of this invention the longitudinal component of cable tension for stopping an object such as a vehicle striking the barrier is taken up in a bending force on the upper part of the side mounting members, by tension in the rotatable support members and by frictional yielding of the brake means to which the cables are attached.

The transverse component of this stopping force is taken as a bending force on the entire side mounting members. This bending force is resisted by the guide members by making them sufficiently strong at those areas where this force is the greatest.

The roadway barrier of this invention is easily moved into position and serves to warn an oncoming object such as a vehicle, that an obstruction is on the roadway so that the object can be halted. However, if the object strikes the barrier the force of the object is absorbed by the barrier. In the preferred construction the cables are provided with drums and brakes that restrainingly pay out the cables in halting the object.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention showing the barrier in raised position and extending across a roadway.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation from the vehicle approach side, with parts in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing one side of the barrier structure.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and showing the barrier in retracted position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the barrier in raised position. v

2,702,953 Patented Mar. 1, 1955 Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary and elevational view showing one end of the barrier in raised position.

Fig. 8 is a section taken along line 88 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings the movable barrier structure comprises a pair of mounting members 11 located on opposite sides of the roadway 12. As each mounting member 11 is substantially the same as the other, only one member will be shown, and described in detail.

Each mounting member 11 is rotatably supported about an axle 13. This axle is preferably located as nearly as practical to the center of gravity of the mounting member so that the member may be easily rotated about the axle. As is shown most clearly in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, each end of the axle is held in side bearings 14 positioned beneath the surface of the adjacent parts of the sidewalk or similar surface.

Each mounting member includes a circular sector extending generally forwardly from its axle 13 in the direction of travel of the object such as a vehicle that is to be halted. This sector has its center approximately coinciding with the center of the axle 13 and is constructed of a pair of angularly arranged box-like girders 16 and 17 and an arcuate box-like girder 18. This arcuate girder 18 has a center of curvature substantially coinciding with the center of the axle 13. As is shown in Fig. 5, the arcuate girder 18 has a bottom portion 18a extending considerably below the roadway level when the barrier is in elevated position.

The mounting member also includes a section extending rearwardly behind the axle 13. As shown, this rearwardly extending section comprises an upper girder 20 of generally box-like construction extending rearwardly from the bottom of the girder 16 and a pair of parallel angle irons 21 arranged at an angle to the girder 20 and cut away to overlap the girders 16 and 17 at areas spaced forwardly of the axle 13. The whole assembly of girders 16, 17 and 20 and angles 21 are welded or otherwise attached and reinforcing tie plates 22 are attached to the girders 17 and 20 and angles 21 in areas adjacent to axle 13 in order to give the entire assembly added strength.

The rear ends of the girders 20 and the angles 21 are attached to a rack bar 23 having rack teeth 23a on the rear surface thereof. These rack teeth are arcuately arranged on an arc having its center of curvature substantially coinciding with the center of the axle 13.

In order to provide proper balance to the barrier structure so that it may be easily rotated about the axle 13 the rear end of each mounting member 11 is provided with counterweights 24. As is shown most clearly in Fig. 3, each counterweight preferably includes a heavy, iron weight 24a attached on each side of a girder 20 and overlapping theupper portion of the rack bar 23.

Arranged within the upper portion of the girder 18 between the outer ends of the girders 16 and 17 are three pairs of substantially parallel plates 25 as illustrated in the cut-away portions of Fig. 5. Between each pair of parallel plates 25 is positioned a rotatably mounted sheave illustrated at 26, 27 and 28-. Each sheave is aligned approximately on the radius of a circle whose center is slightly above the center of the axle 13.

The axle 13 as shown in Fig. 6 is provided with a multiple sheave 29 integral with a sleeve 36 rotatably mounted thereon. The sleeve 30 and attached sheave 29 are located between the sides of the upper girder 16.

Positioned substantially directly beneath each axle 13 is a brake and drum apparatus 33 of conventional design. This apparatus consists of a drum with suitable spacing to receive the several barrier cables and wind them separately, and friction bands 34, jaws or other retarding mechanism engaging a part of the drum at one side of the portion occupied by the barrier cables. If a vehicle or other object encounters the barrier, these cables unwind from the drum to the limit of travel provided and the brakes provide a strong decelerating force to stop the vehicle.

For restoring the barrier to proper condition for stopping the next vehicle, means are provided for releasing the brake pressure, after which the cables may be rewound rnanually or by means of an electric motor and speed reducer 37 and a small pinion 38, preferably of the automobile starter type, engaging a ring gear 35 on the rim ofthe drum forthis purpose, but normally inoperative as shown in Fig. 8.

In order to provide an effective barrier to an oncoming object such as a vehicle on the roadway, there are provided a plurality of cables, such as the three cables 40, 41 and 42 shown extending across the roadway between the mounting member 11. Each of these cables has an end attached to and wound on a brake drum 33, and passes upwardly over one groove of the main axle sheave 29, forwardly to one of the sheaves 26, 27 or 23 on mounting member 11, then across the roadway to corresponding sheaves on the opposite mounting member, then rearwardly to an axle sheave similar to 29, and downwardly to a similar brake drum apparatus, where they likewise are wound several turns and the ends fastened to the drum.

When the barrier structure is in a raised position as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 7 the cables 40, 41 and 42 extend across the roadway 12. These cables have a slight sag and are connected by spaced, vertical cross ropes, straps or cables 44-. Extending between the cables are strips 45 of fabric with a striking pattern to attract the eye of the operator of the vehice so that he can see the barrier.

In order to raise the barrier structure into an obstructing position and to lower the barrier to a retracted position, a gear 46 is povided engaging the pinion teeth 23a. The gear 46 and a similar gear for the opposite mounting member 11 are mounted on the opposite ends of a transverse shaft 48. This transverse shaft is supported by bearing blocks 49 spaced along the shaft and the shaft is rotated by a motor and speed reducer 52 operating through gears 50 and 51.

In order to permit lowering the horizontal reaches 40a, 41 and 42a of the cables, the roadway 12 is provided with a transverse slot 1211. This transverse slot communicates with the portion of the structure beneath the roadway and the approximately horizontal reaches of the cables and the associated structure pass through this slot each time the barrier is raised and lowered. These horizontal reaches are guided into the space between downwardly extending spaced plates 66 and 67 whose upper edges form the inner portions of the transverse slot 120.

In order to guide the horizontal reaches 40a, 41a and 42a of the cables into the slot, a leading rope 53 is connected to barrier cable 42a. This lead rope 53 extends directly downwardly through the slot 12a and around the bottom of a sheave 54. From this sheave the lead rope 53 passes rearwardly and is attached to a drum 55 mounted on the shaft 48. The drum 55 is provided with a. friction clutch 56 or other device which permits the lead rope 53 to pay out without transmitting great torque and movement to shaft 48. With this arrangement, whenever the shaft is rotated to lower the barrier, the lead rope 53 is taken up on the drum 55 and while being taken up, guides the lowermost portions of the horizontal reaches 461:, din and 42a, and thus the reaches themselves, into the slot 12a. This also serves to guide these horizontal reaches into the slots 57a in the sidewalks 57 and the like also defined by the upper edges of plates 66 and 57. ln order to guide the arcuate girder 18 and to absorb sidethrust, there are provided spring-pressed guide members 58 and 59 bearing against each of the arcuate girders and located beneath the roadway surface.

As is shown in the drawings, space is provided beneath the roadway l2 and sidewalks 57 for the operating parts of the barrier structure. For a bridge approach structure, the operating machinery may be mounted on a suitable platform 60, and guides on a support 62, all suspended from the deck beams 61, columns and other framing members. For a railroad crossing, the cross shaft 43 and lead rope drum 55, together with the barrier net assembly (49 to 45) when in the lowered position, wouid be enclosed in a roofed trench beneath the roadway, and operating and braking mechanism would be enclosed in roofed vaults at each side of the roadway.

When the barrier is in retracted position as shown in Fig. 4, all parts of the barrier structure are beneath the top of the sidewalk 57 and surrounding surfaces and the counterweights 24 are hidden by removable cover plates 57b. When the barrier is to be raised, the motor 52 is energized to rotate the gears 51 and 5t), and thus the shaft 48. When this occurs, the gears move the rack bars, such as the rack bar 23, downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4. When the barrier is lowered, the rotation of the shaft 48 causes rotation of the lead rope drum 55 to take up the lead rope 53 and guide the horizontal reaches of the cables into their slots 12a and 57a.

When an object such as a vehicle travelling in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 1-) strikes the horizontal reaches of the cables when the barrier is raised, the cables are paid out from the brake apparatus 33 to halt the motion of the vehicle. When the cables are in their normal position they will extend directly across the roadway as shown in the drawings. However, in stopping a vehicle or the like they will be distorted forwardly as shown in the dotted lines on Fig. 6 as indicated by the numeral 149a. As soon as the object has been stopped and removed from engagement with the cables, the cables may be again drawn up on their brake structures manually or by operation of the motor and speed reducer 37 through the pinion 38.

In order to avoid freezing of the operating parts of the barrier structure during the winter season, heating means are preferably provided such as the electric resistance cables illustrated at 68 and 69. As can be seen, these electric cables are beneath and adjacent to the plates 66 and 67 so as to keep the space between the plates clear of snow and ice.

The wiring diagrams for the motor and for the heating cables are not illustrated as these are purely conventional and are well within the skill of those acquainted with the art.

One important feature of the invention is in arranging the cables so that the major component of stopping force necessary to stop a vehicle or the like is taken in tension by the cables. Furthermore, this tension force does not place an undue burden on the mounting members at each side of the roadway, as each cable is arranged in the shape of a loop. Thus, as is shown in the drawing, the vehicles will strike the horizontal portions 4%, 41a and 42a of the cables while the side portions of the cables extend generally rearwardly and opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle or other object. Furthermore, the sides of the cables pass adjacent to the center of rotation of the mounting members so that the barrier structure can be rotated to elevated and retracted positions without substantial change of the relationship of the cables to each other or to the mounting members.

By extending the cables partially around the axis of rotation of the mounting members and then to the brake mechanism at all positions of the barrier, the brake mechanism can be stationary and the barrier structure can be moved Without appreciable change in the relationship of the cables.

By approximately balancing the barrier structure adjacent to its center of gravity, a structure is provided that may be built very strong and sturdy yet can be easily and rapidly raised and lowered.

In the preferred structure, the horizontal reaches of the cables are aligned substantially on the arc of a circle whose center substantially corresponds with the center H of rotation of the barrier and with this center of rotation being the center of the axles 13. By providing this arrangement, the slots 12a and 57a may be kept quite narrow so as not to interfere substantially with traffic, yet the cables can be easily and quickly guided into and out of these slots. Furthermore, by constructing the arcuate girders 18 on curves whose centers substantially correspond with the center of rotation of the mounting members, only a minimum of space is required for housing these girders beneath the roadway level.

In the roadway barrier as shown, the longitudinal component of cable tension for stopping a vehicle or the like will be taken in a bending force on the upper part of the mounting members and by tension in the cables. These forces will be applied directly to the axles 13. For this reason, the axles and their supporting structures are made very strong. The transverse component of this stopping tension is taken as a bending force on the entire side mounting members. This bending force is resisted by guide members such as those illustrated at 53 and 59 in Figure 7 of the drawings.

In the specification and claims the term cable for the obstructing portion of the structure is used generically to include all strong, flexible obstructing elements.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention he not limited by any of the details of description but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A roadway barrier structure for intercepting an oncoming object, comprising: a pair of mounting members on opposite sides or the roadway; a plurality of cables extending between the mounting members at all times during the intercepting of said object, each cable including an approximately horizontal reach extending between the mounting members for intercepting said oncoming object on the roadway and side reaches each extending in a direction generally opposite to the direction of travel of the object in order to absorb the shock of the object striking said horizontal reaches in tension on the cables and without substantial lateral displacement thereof; and means for moving said mounting members to raise and lower said cables to and from object intercepting position.

2. The barrier structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting members are mounted for oscillation about a subst-antially common transverse axis and said side reaches extend generally toward said axis and pass adjacent thereto during said oscillation.

3. the barrier structure of claim 1 wherein each cable is attached to a brake apparatus for restrainingly paying out the cables in absorbing the thrust of an object striking said cables.

4. -A roadway barrier structure, comprising: a pair of mounting members on opposite sides of the roadway mounted for oscillation about a substantially common axis, each mounting member including a generally vertical side portion spaced from said axis; a plurality of cables extending at all times between the mounting members, each cable including an approximately horizontal reach extending between said side portions for intercepting an oncoming object on the roadway and side reaches each extending in a direction generally opposite to the direction of travel of the object, said side portions being located on the side of said axis opposite to the oncoming object and said side reaches extending generally toward and partially around said axis during said oscillation; a brake apparatus to which each cable is attached for restrainingly paying out the cable in absorbing the thrust of an object striking said cables; and apparatus for oscillating said mounting members to raise and lower said cables to and from object intercepting position across the roadway.

5. The barrier structure of claim 4 wherein said horizontal reaches are aligned substantially in a circular arc whose center of curvature substantially coincides with said axis of oscillation, and structure is provided defining a relatively narrow slot extending generally transversely of said roadway and through which said reaches pass during said raising and lowering.

6. The barrier structure of claim 4 wherein said side portions of the mounting members are each of arcuate shape with the center of the are substantially coinciding with said axis of rotation.

7. The barrier structure of claim 4 wherein said side portions of the mounting members extend beneath the sides of the roadway when the members are in elevated position and guide members are provided to guide the travel thereof and resist bending.

8. The barrier structure of claim 4 wherein the portion of each mounting member opposite to said horizontal cable reaches is positioned substantially entirely beneath a horizontal plane passing through said axis of oscillation.

9. A roadway barrier structure, comprising: a pair of substantially parallel mounting members on opposite sides of the roadway mounted for oscillation about a substantially common axis that is transverse to the roadway; a plurality of cables extending between the mounting members during said oscillation, each cable including an approximately horizontal reach extending between the mounting members for intercepting an oncoming object on the roadway and side reaches extending generally toward said axis, partially around said axis and then away from the axis; brake apparatus to which the ends of the cables are attached; and apparatus for oscillating said mounting members to raise and lower said cables to and from ob ect intercepting position across the roadway.

10. The barrier structure or claim 9 wherein said brake apparatus is fixedly mounted generally beneath said axis of oscillation.

11. A roadway barrier structure, comprising: a pair of mounting members on opposite sides of the roadway mounted for oscillation about a substantially common axis, each mounting member having one end thereof extending generally upwardly above the roadway when in elevated position and the opposite end extending at all times generally downwardly and substantially entirely beneath said axis of oscillation; a plurality of cables each having a reach extending between said upwardly-extending ends of the mounting members for intercepting an oncoming object on the roadway when the barrier is in said elevated position; and apparatus acting on said downwardly-extending ends of the mounting members for oscillating said members to raise and lower said cables to and from object intercepting positions.

12. The barrier structure of claim 11 wherein said cable reaches are aligned substantially on an arc of a circle whose center substantially coincides with said center of oscillation, and structure is provided defining a relatively narrow slot extending generally transversely of said roadway and through WhlCh said reaches pass during said raising and lowering.

13. The barrier structure of claim 12 wherein a line is provided connecting said cable reaches, extending into said slot and operatively connected to said oscillating apparatus for guiding said cable reaches into the slot during said lowering.

14. A roadway barrier structure, comprising: a pair of mounting members on opposite sides of the roadway mounted for oscillation about a substantially common axis extending transversely of the roadway, each mounting member including a generally vertical arcuate side portion spaced from said axis with the center of curvature of the are substantially coinciding with said axis; apparatus for oscillating said mounting members upwardly to a position where the upper ends of the arcuate side portions are above the roadway and downwardly to a position where said upper ends are substantially beneath the roadway, the lower ends of the arcuate side portions being beneath said roadway at all times; a plurality of cables supported by said mounting members each having approximately horizontal reaches extending between said upper ends of said arcuate side portions, said reaches being in position for intercepting an oncoming object on the roadway when said mounting members have been oscillated upwardly and being beneath said roadway when the mounting members have been oscillated downwardly; and structure defining a relatively narrow slot extending generally transversely of said roadway and through which said reaches pass during said oscillation.

15. The barrier structure of claim 14 wherein said mounting members are positioned in chambers generally beneath said axis of oscillation when the members are in lowered position, and guide means are provided in these chambers engaging said lower ends of said arcuate side portions for guiding the movements thereof and for resisting bending forces thereon.

16. The barrier structure of claim 14 wherein each cable includes side reaches extending from said arcuate side portions, generally toward said axis of oscillation, partially around said axis and generally downwardly, and brake apparatus is provided to which said downwardlyextending ends of the cables are attached for restrainingly paying out the cables in absorbing the thrust of an object striking said cables.

17. The barrier structure of claim 16 wherein each of said arcuate side portions of the mounting members have mounted thereon arcuately spaced sheaves around which said cables pass.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,493 Cruickshank Apr. 10, 1923 1,686,832 McGinnis Oct. 9, 1928 1,711,243 Neeld Apr. 30, 1929 1,789,653 Hoyt Jan. 20, 1931 2,182,508 White Dec. 5, 1939 2,251,699 Banschbach Aug. 5, 1941 

